Toyota has argued, in this case and others, that the cause of the accident was human error. But the jury heeded the plaintiffs’ claim that the acceleration was due to a fault in the electronic throttle system of the 2005 Camry, and that Toyota acted in “reckless disregard” to public safety.

Toyota has been ordered to pay $1.5 million in compensatory damages to the driver of the car, and another $1.5 million to the family of a woman who has killed in the crash. The jury will now deliberate on how much the car-maker should pay in punitive damages.